Issues: Taxes

Faced with a worsening financial climate, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Wednesday that he was contemplating whether to propose changes to the state tax code, and he did not rule out the possibility that he would seek to raise taxes on wealthy New Yorkers.

The Queens Gazette wrote about the "State of Queens Address" at the Astoria Civic Association, where Senator Gianaris and other elected officials discussed a variety of issues and accomplishments in Queens. Senator Gianaris talked specifically about the economy, the importance of the film tax credit and hydrofracking.

A triumvirate of elected officials delivered the “State of Queens Address” at the November 8 meeting of the Astoria Civic Association at Riccardo’s by the bridge.

Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., Assemblymember Aravella Simotas and state Senator Mike Gianaris had the chance to review accomplishments, as well as challenges that Queens has been facing and will continue to face in the near future.

State Senator Martin Malavé Dilan (D-Bushwick) expressed his disappointment that the Federal Committee appointed to strike a deficit reduction deal has announced its failure. The committee’s failure to reach an agreement sets in motion an automatic plan to cut $1.2 trillion in federal spending beginning in 2013.

There are weeks I feel like I should wear a football helmet to the office. That’s because whenever powerful, special interest groups feel I’ve somehow threatened their status quo, they launch attacks. This past week a number of local teachers’ unions targeted me as the “deciding vote” in favor of the tax cap and, in that vote, as having participated in an attack on our children’s education.

Ronkonkoma, N.Y. – The Business Council of New York State recently released their 2011 Voters’ Guide, which measures New York State legislators’ “Commitment to improving the state’s economic climate and performance by scoring their support for key business legislation during the 2011 session.” Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I- Shirley) received the Business Council’s highest score.

ONEONTA, 11/01/11 – State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta) today applauded an administrative decision to reschedule the due date for an “extra” mandated Medicaid payment from counties in 2012. The slight postponement will save homeowners and taxpayers millions of dollars statewide.

“Local elected leaders are already dealing with enough bureaucratic red tape and increased costs without adding an unintentional calendar quirk to the equation,” said Senator Seward. “By reversing the mandate that would have forced counties to write an additional check in 2012, taxpayers will avoid a costly expense.”

Senator Adams joined the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus and a coalition of elected officials and union leaders gathered on the steps of City Hall in support of extending the millionaires' tax in New York. The millionaire's tax will increase the tax for individuals whose annual income exceeds $250,000. With a budget gap in the billions, New York State is facing steep reductions in addition to the dramatic cuts over the last three years in education, health care and transportation.

The Queens Gazette wrote on Senator Gianaris' thoughts at the UCCA meeting at Augustana Lutheran Church in Astoria Heights on October 6. The senator discussed the state of the state, in relation to its budget and deficit, along with other issues such hasydrofracking, power plant siting, hospital closings in Queens and auto insurance fraud.

Much has been made of the lack of specific demands of the Occupy Wall Street protesters. But the themes underlying the protests are clear: accountability on Wall Street for the financial crisis that tanked the global economy; shared sacrifice as we pull ourselves out of an economic mess that the middle class and working poor didn't create; and a political system controlled by people, not corporations.

State Senator Patty Ritchie today announced that she has drafted legislation to help cash-strapped counties by requiring Albany to speed up its payments for mandated services—or pay interest on the overdue amounts.

Senator Ritchie’s bill was prompted by complaints from officials in St. Lawrence and other counties that Albany was holding back millions of dollars of overdue payments to balance its own budget, forcing county governments to borrow money to pay their bills.

Buffalo-- Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R,C,I-Erie, Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario) and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D,I,WF-Westchester) were joined by state and local officials from across western New York Wednesday to announce bipartisan legislation (S.5889-B) that will structurally reform the cost administration of New York State’s Medicaid system by incrementally transferring full responsibility for funding the $44 billion program to the State -- gradually eliminating the local share traditionally paid by county governments. Senator Roy McDonald (R,C,I – Saratoga) is also a primary sponsor of the Senate legislation, but was unable to join his colleagues at the press conference.

Senators Patrick M. Gallivan (R-Erie) and Roy McDonald (R-Saratoga), and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-Westchester) will propose reforms to the cost administration of New York State’s Medicaid System that will provide immediate and permanent mandate relief for the State’s struggling local governments.

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance announced the extension of certain tax filing and payment deadlines for affected taxpayers, tax preparers and relief workers in counties that were declared disaster areas by President Barack Obama.

The deadlines for most filings and tax payments have been extended to October 31, 2011. The deadlines for withholding payments and Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility Tax payments have been extended to September 12th, 2011. There are no extensions for payments required to be made through the Prompt Tax system for sales tax, prepaid sales tax and excise tax on motor fuel and diesel motor fuel and the petroleum business tax.

Brewster, N.Y. – (08/12/11) – Senator Greg Ball (R, C – Patterson) is renewing his call for an immediate full forensic audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). This, in the wake of the recent resignation of MTA Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Jay Walder, and the impending appointment of a new leader by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.